I have worked many games and have taken several road trips with Mark. He has a great knowledge of the game and the players and has a knack for details. I really appreciate all of his comments on my posts. Thank you Mark for being my first guest blogger.
QUESTION: How long have you been with the Texas Sports Radio Network and how did you get started?
I guess this is a two part question.
In the summer of 2000, a certain hamburger chain that emphasizes orange in its color scheme sponsored a Voice of the Missions contest. Contestants were invited to write a 300 word essay about why you’d make a good voice for the Missions. I entered and Jeff Long selected my essay, so I got to do a couple of innings of a game against the Round Rock Express. One inning I did color with Brian Anderson (now the television voice of the Milwaukee Brewers); the next I did an inning of play-by-play with Roy Acuff. I know my baseball, and I did some homework so I’d know who the players were, and Roy praised me to the skies at the end of my inning.
Part of the prize was a cassette recording of my time on the air.
I made copies of the cassette for friends and family, and honestly figured that was the extent of things. Then about a year later, Bill Myers, a high school friend of my wife Brenda, called her up. Myers was a D.J. and Program Director at KBUC in Pleasanton, which at the time was an affiliate of the Texas Sports Radio Network. Bill explained that Bobby Stautzenberger, the man behind the San Antonio chapter of TSRN, was picking up the San Marcos Rattler football schedule to broadcast, and needed a broadcast crew RIGHT AWAY. Did she know anyone she thought could help? To her occasional regret, Brenda suggested me.
I ended up paired with De Hansen, doing color for him, as San Marcos made the 4A Division I playoffs, winning in the first round against Pflugerville Connally before losing to Smithson Valley in the second round. The following season, I was assigned to Central Catholic, doing color the first couple of games, then taking over play-by-play beginning with their game against Fox Tech.
In retrospect, it was a pretty quick rise.
Oh my gosh Mark, I worked for the Missions in the summer of 2000. It is very possible that I was at that particular game. Wow! I worked with Jeff’s wife at the games. One game, I forgot my Missions shirt so I was provided a red t-shirt that said “I was the Whataburger voice of the Missions.” I think I still have that shirt.
Mark Hoenig and I did some games on KBUC a long long time ago.
QUESTION: How many road trips have you done?
Good heavens. In eleven years, counting football, basketball, and baseball, it must be almost 100.
Brownsville, Corpus, McAllen, Kingsville, Houston, Arlington, Alice, Weimer…a couple of those multiple times… but that’s just for this last year.
Previous years have included Weslaco, Laredo, Victoria, Robstown, San Marcos, Buda, Kyle, Dripping Springs, Marble Falls, Katy, Weimer, Belton, Waco, Irving, Fort Worth…. a few of those multiple times…
should New Braunfels or Seguin or Spring Branch or Austin or Round Rock count as a road trip?
Man, that sure is a lot of driving!
QUESTION: What do you do when you aren’t broadcasting a game or working at your day job?
Sleep.
When I DO have time to be awake, I read a lot, and play guitar and piano when I can, which isn’t often enough.
Koos, I had no clue that you play piano and guitar. That is really cool.
See ya Saturday evening.
Next Wednesday on Inside the Huddle will be a father of a current football player on the Brandeis Broncos and he is also high school football official.
Tomorrow night, I will be at Heroes stadium for Warren and MacArthur. Friday night, I will be at Rutledge stadium for Lake Travis and Judson. And on Saturday night, I will be at Comalander stadium for Wagner and Reagan. I will have my articles of those games on Saturday and Sunday.
